About the university
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU), which dates its history to 1845, has its main campus in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester. With around 1,100 students, it describes itself as more like a community than a campus. Its degrees cover agriculture, agricultural business, business management, real estate and rural land management, environment, equine science and cultural heritage.
For Indian students the main draw is the one-year MSc range in sustainable agriculture and food security, agricultural technology and innovation, agroecology and business management, with September and January starts. Student visa holders must study full time and attend in person.
- Founded
- 1845 ("Growing Futures since 1845")
- Type
- Public specialist university for agriculture, land, business and the environment
- Students
- Around 1,100 (RAU accommodation page)
- Campus
- Main campus in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester
- Intakes
- September (undergraduate); September and January (most MSc)
Rankings
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
109th of 130 UK universities
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
MSc Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security
- Fee / year
- £22,000
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5, or equivalent
- Postgraduate
MSc Agricultural Technology & Innovation
- Fee / year
- £22,000
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5, or equivalent
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £22,000
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- September; January
- English
- IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5, or equivalent
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,950
- Duration
- 3 years full time (placement and foundation year versions available)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic (UKVI) or equivalent at the level the RAU sets for the course; see the English requirements page
- Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Business Management
- Fee / year
- £16,950
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic (UKVI) or equivalent at the level the RAU sets for the course; see the English requirements page
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,950
- Duration
- 3 years full time (RICS accredited)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS Academic (UKVI) or equivalent at the level the RAU sets for the course; see the English requirements page
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security | 1 year full time | £22,000 | ≈ ₹26.8 lakh |
| MSc Agricultural Technology & Innovation | 1 year full time | £22,000 | ≈ ₹26.8 lakh |
| MSc Business Management | 1 year full time | £22,000 | ≈ ₹26.8 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Agriculture | 3 years full time (placement and foundation year versions available) | £16,950 | ≈ ₹20.7 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management | 3 years full time | £16,950 | ≈ ₹20.7 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Real Estate | 3 years full time (RICS accredited) | £16,950 | ≈ ₹20.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Royal Agricultural University with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- PG
Vice-Chancellor's Global Impact Scholarship
Value: Up to £1,500 towards tuition for one year
Eligibility: Fee-paying international offer holders on a full-time taught MSc, 2026/27.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - UG and PG
Education Future International Scholarship
Value: INR 2–10 lakh
Eligibility: Indian nationals; listed on the RAU scholarships page as open.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - UG and PG
International Referral Programme
Value: £500 to the new international student (and £500 to the referrer)
Eligibility: New international students referred by an RAU alumnus or current student.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Typically 96–104 UCAS points from three A levels or equivalent (for example CCC for Business Management, BCC for Agriculture and Real Estate), plus English Language and Maths at GCSE level or equivalent. Ask the RAU how it assesses Class 12.
- Foundation year versions of most degrees are available.
Postgraduate
- An honours degree at 2:2 or above, or an overseas equivalent, or relevant professional qualifications or experience.
- Non-standard applicants send a personal statement and CV and may be interviewed.
Documents
- Passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets, or degree transcripts and certificate
- IELTS Academic (UKVI) or equivalent English result
- Personal statement and CV (non-standard applicants)
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic (MSc) | 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5 (course pages); UKVI version for Student visa applicants. |
| IELTS Academic (other levels) | The English requirements page lists tiers from 6.0 overall (no component below 5.5) upwards; check the tier for your course. |
| PTE Academic | From 60 overall with no element below 59, depending on the course. |
| TOEFL iBT / Duolingo | TOEFL from 4.5 out of 6 (tests after 1 January 2026) and Duolingo from 115, depending on the course. |
| Class 12 English | The English requirements page does not mention an Indian Class 12 waiver; ask admissions. |
Accommodation and living costs
Students can live in halls on the main campus or off campus in Cirencester. The accommodation page we opened does not list prices; the RAU's halls of residence page shows the price of each hall.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|
Campus and location
The RAU's main campus is in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester, with around 1,100 students.
- Agriculture, business, environment, equine, land and property, and cultural heritage subjects.
- One-year MSc degrees with September and January starts.
- Student visa holders attend all sessions in person.
- Real estate degrees accredited by RICS.
Careers and graduate outcomes
The RAU does not publish graduate employment figures on the pages we opened. Its real estate degrees are RICS accredited. For the Graduate Route, see our UK guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
What are the RAU's fees for international students?
£16,950 a year for undergraduate degrees in 2026/27 and £22,000 for a full-time one-year MSc.
Does the RAU have a January intake?
Yes. Most MSc degrees, including Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security, Agricultural Technology & Innovation and Business Management, start in September or January.
What IELTS score do I need for an MSc?
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no element below 5.5, or an equivalent test.
Are there scholarships for Indian students?
Full-time international MSc students can apply for the Vice-Chancellor's Global Impact Scholarship of up to £1,500, and the RAU lists the Education Future International Scholarship (INR 2–10 lakh) for Indian nationals.
Sources
- Royal Agricultural University: homepage (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: international students (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: finance for international students (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: international scholarships (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: MSc Sustainable Agriculture & Food Security (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: BSc (Hons) Agriculture (opens in a new tab)
- RAU: accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Complete University Guide 2027 league table (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.rau.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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